Alfred Arthur Shepherd
From Our Contribution
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| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1 Jun 1916 |
| Place of Birth | Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Death | 31 Aug 2003, aged 77 |
| Place of Death | Shoalwater, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 25 years, 7 months |
| Occupation | Clerk WAGR |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | c/- FJ Stalker, Southern River road, Gosnells |
| Next of Kin | Wife , Mrs Olive Christina Shepherd |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 415835 |
| Date of Enlistment | 1 Feb 1942 |
| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Unit/Formation | No. 7 Operational Training Unit RAAF |
| Post War Details | |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
Prior to enlistment, Alfred was employed by the WA Governtment Railways as a clerk. During 1940 Alfred married Olive Christina Stalker (1916 - 2007) in the local area. Olive died on 29 Nov 2007, aged 91 in Gosnells. They had four children, including Marion Christina (14 Aug 1943), Kaye, Stella, Joan, and Robert
Electoral Roll entry: 1943 at Albany road, Cannington, clerk
War Service
Alfred enlisted as Air Crew level V at the No. 4 RAAF Recruiting Centre in Perth on 1 Feb 1942 and was posted to the No. 5 Initial Training School RAAF at that time still at Pearce. Here he was remustered on 19 May 1942 as a trainee pilot level V. On 24 Jun 1942, having made satisfactory progress in his training he was posted to No. 9 Elementary Flying Training School RAAF at Cunderdin as a Leading Aircraftman. On 26 Oct 1942 he had moved on to the No. 4 Service Flying Training School RAAF at Geraldton where on 5 Feb 1943 his graduation was accompanied by the award of his Flying Badge. Five days later he was discharged from the RAAF, in order to become a Commissioned Officer having completed the No. 27 Pilot Training Course. On 12 Feb 1943 Alfred was enrolled in a course at the General Reconnaissance School RAAF then located at Cressy in Victoria, and then on 30 Apr 1943 Alfred was posted to No. 67 Squadron RAAF at Laverton in Victora flying general flying tasks in Avro Anson aircraft , remaining with them until after his last flight on 10 Apr 1944. He was then posted on 30 May 1944 to the 5th Bomber Command USAF during which he participated in an operational flight in the South West Pacific Area.
Alfred's first Consolidated B-24 Liberator flight for his new unit took place on 21 Jun 1944, with his last flight on 23 Jul 1944, after which he joined the 528th Squadron USAF at Fenton airfield in the Northern Territory on 27 Jul 1944. While with them he flew on 10 missions against targets in the Indonesian islands such as Lama; Namba; and Liang. His last flight was on 5 Oct 1944, after which he transferred on the 18th to No. 21 Squadron RAAF operating out of Amberley in Queensland and Fenton in the Northern Territory. With them he carried out another 4 operational flights, the last one occurring on 17 Mar 1945.
Alfred was posted to the No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF on 2 Apr 1945 before being sent to the No. 7 Operational Training Unit RAAF for a conversion course, but with the war winding down he was returned to the Personnel Depot on 16 Jul 1945 for discharge. Alfred's appointment was terminated on 23 Aug 1945.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries: 1949 at Albany road, Cannington, clerk; 1954 - 1972 at 61 Lawrence street, Bayswater, clerk; 1977 - 1980 at 2 Fifth avenue, Shoalwater, retired.
Notes